The loss of 11 flight dispatcher jobs from Jetstar to a flight services contractor in Manila might not seem like many, but the shift of Qantas group resources overseas is a slow but determined work in progress, says Ben Sandilands.
Jetstar
Jetstar flight dispatchers sacked: jobs go to Manila
Jetstar dispatched its flight dispatchers yesterday with a month’s notice, sending their jobs to a service provider in Manila. Dispatcher duties vary considerably between airlines and countries.
Light plane crash focus misplaced by the media
There has been more ATSB media about the light aircraft crash in suburban Sydney than incidents involving much larger scheduled airliners. Why? What will be done to make general aviation airports safer?
QantasLink near miss — air safety reports need transparency
The ATSB released a damning report into an astonishingly unsafe approach to Sydney Airport by a QantasLink turbo-prop. There is no effective accountability in air safety reporting in this country.
Jetstar in for the long haul … out of Asia
Jetstar becoming Singapore’s first long-haul, low-cost carrier has far more serious ramifications than the scant press coverage intimated.
Angry Flyers Lounge: Jetstar unhinged
This report about Jetstar concerns passengers being treated like crap by the carrier, and some very unprofessional and threatening attitudes by staff, with one exception. Ben Sandilands explains.
The iJet age begins
There will be four very different forms of ‘smart’ check-in procedures in domestic air travel by the end of this year, which should allow people who have checked in to board their flight right up to the moment the door is sealed. Ben Sandilands explains.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: poor Aunty needs a care package
One ABC presenter is hitting back at the federal opposition regarding their demands of last year that the ABC disclose the salaries of its on-air talent.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Jetstar pays its way
Jetstar spokesperson Simon Westaway defends Jetstar, while Crikey reader Jason Ives pulls up Crikey on the fact that “KNICKERS” can’t be made on a Scrabble board.
Tiger ready to pounce on Avalon
Well sourced rumours that the Tiger-Avalon Airport deal is close claim that Tiger will split its Melbourne operations and leave the ones that most trouble Qantas and Jetstar at Tullamarine, writes Ben Sandilands.
Pilots: time for Qantas to come clean on propping up Jetstar
Disaffected pilots and staff are discussing moves to force the Qantas management to disclose secret transfers of assets from Qantas to Jetstar to make the low-cost subsidiary look more profitable than it is.
Angry Flyers Lounge: The art of not answering a simple question
In the latest from Angry Flyers Lounge, one frustrated Jetstar customer laments the difficulty of getting the company to just answer one simple question: why does the cost of excess baggage vary?
Qantas cooking the books on passenger numbers
Qantas is inflating its stock exchange filings of monthly data for its Jetstar International operations with those of its Jetstar New Zealand domestic operation.
Qantas windscreen crack really a crock on a quiet news day
As PR stunts go, the cracked Qantas wind-screen near disaster story doing the rounds this morning is a gripping read. Too bad it’s merely a routine incident that didn’t affect safety at all.
Qantas figures confirm: for the suits, the days of luxury are over
Every frequent flyer’s nightmare lurched closer to reality when Qantas reported its February operating statistics to the ASX this morning — Jetstar domestic reached exactly 50% of the size of Qantas.
Jetstar escapes prosecution
Why is Jetstar untouchable when it breaks the law? It failed to notify the ATSB of a reportable air safety incident, yet it’s escaped prosecution. Where is the integrity and consistency of the ATSB?
Airline safety regulatory enforcement: US shows how to get tough
The neglect of airline safety regulatory enforcement in Australia compared to the US is highlighted by the different treatment recently of safety failures in Jetstar and American Airlines.
ATSB report damns Jetstar pilot training
A fierce report from Australia’s air safety investigator has finally slammed Jetstar’s pilot training, following an incompetent and dangerously bungled landing at Tullamarine Airport several years ago.
Jetstar threatens to quit Darwin and Hobart, pulls out of Rockhampton
Disagreements between Jetstar and airport owners have flared into the open, with the airline ditching flights to Rockhampton and threatening to cap or quit services to Darwin and Hobart airports, says Ben Sandilands.
The 700-seat Jetstar Airbus A380 is coming
Never mind the fate of first class seating on Qantas, says Ben Sandilands: a 650-700-seat Jetstar A380 is coming — the writing is on the terminal walls.
Confusion underlies Qantas’ underlying profit report
Qantas’ ambush introduction of underlying profit metrics, rather than traditional profit metrics, in its presentation and Q&A is likely to be a tougher sell to fund managers than it was to the media.
Qantas half-yearly big on excuses, small in results
Qantas has just released its latest half-yearly financial report. In a nut-shell: Jetstar is booming, mainline isn’t and shareholders get nothing by way of dividends. Ben Sandilands has more.
A hard look at Jetstar’s soft Customer Guarantee
Jetstar has launched the first customer guarantee by an Australian airline today. Ben Sandilands filters through the spin to work out exactly what you’ll get if they screw up.
Jetstar now on collision course with Vietjet
Scarcely a month after entering a low cost carrier alliance with Air Asia, Jetstar’s battered Vietnam ambitions now face competition from a joint venture in the form of Vietjet Air Asia.
Angry flyers lounge: Jetstar delays in the sky and on land
The latest addition to the Angry Flyers Lounge sees flyer Tom frustrated with Jetstar’s customer service after his flight from Tokyo was delayed. Does it really take one or two weeks to send a letter between Melbourne and Adelaide?
